Aaron Clements Appointed CARS 2008 Event Chairman

Clemments

The Automotive Service Association has announced that Aaron Clements, AAM, immediate past chairman of ASA’s board of directors, will be chairman of the 2008 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS). He also will serve as chairman of the 12-plus member CARS Attendee Advisory Council.

CARS 2008 will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas during Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW), Nov. 5-8. It will be co-located with the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE). CARS is the premier event for automotive service and repair professionals. NACE serves the collision repair segment of the industry.

Before serving as chairman of the 2007 ASA board of directors, Clements, president of C&C Automotive Inc., held the positions of chairman-elect and secretary/ treasurer on ASA’s board. Clements has been an ASA member since 1981 and his business is AAA-approved as well as a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Blue Seal of Excellence facility. Ninety percent of the staff is certified by ASE, and 50 percent are ASE master-certified. A 33-year veteran of the automotive service industry, Clements is an ASE master-certified technician and is a member of the Augusta Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau.

Clements began his involvement with ASA by serving in various leadership positions with the local ASA-Augusta chapter in the 1990s. He later moved on to serve at the affiliate level and was elected president of ASA-Georgia in 1999 and 2000. In 2001, Clements earned his Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). He is currently an advisory board member of the Augusta Technical College.

Clements donates his time and expertise speaking before different groups on how to care for a vehicle, including hosting a Saturday morning radio talk show. The C&C Automotive Show can be heard every Saturday morning on WGAC/580 News-Talk Radio, Augusta, Ga., and 93.1 WGAC-FM, Warrenton, Ga., as well as online at www.wgac.com.

In 2000, Clements was awarded the Carl J. Montgomery Memorial Award for professionalism and dedication in the auto repair industry. He was also named the NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year finalist from the Atlanta region each year from 1995 to 2005.

Second-Year Terms in Full Swing for NACE Event, Council Chairmen

The Automotive Service Association has announced that Darrell Amberson, AAM, the director of ASA’s Collision Division, will be chairman of the 2008 International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE). He also will serve as chairman of the 20-plus member NACE Attendee Advisory Council.

Returning as chairman of the Exhibitor Advisory Council is Katie Henwood, marketing communications manager for Standox, a DuPont Performance Coatings brand.

2008 represents the second consecutive year for both Amberson and Henwood to serve in these capacities.

NACE 2008 will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas during Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW), Nov. 5-8. It will be co-located with the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS). NACE serves the collision repair segment of the industry. CARS is the premier event for automotive service and repair professionals.

Amberson

Amberson is president of Lehman’s Garage located in Bloomington, Minn. A 37-year veteran of the industry, Amberson’s career began in the dealership sector of the business where he worked 22 years before moving to an independent shop, primarily as the body shop manager. With the exception of a two-year tour as a professional drag racer (Nitro funny cars) – finishing third in the International Hot Rod Association’s World Championship Points Race in 1989 – he has worked in and supported the collision repair industry. In addition to being director of ASA’s Collision Division, Amberson serves on a number of industry-wide committees, including the CIC Database Task Force (joint effort of ASA, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists and The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers – AASP), the URG Advisory Committee and the CCC/Motor Industry Forum Group. He is also chairman of the AASP-MN Workforce Task Group and Government Affairs Committee.

Henwood

Since joining DuPont five years ago, Henwood has worked in the Marketing Services Group. Currently, she is responsible for the development, implementation and management of marketing, branding, communications and loyalty program initiatives for Standox. She also manages all NACE participation and sponsorship activities for DuPont Performance Coatings.

Online Housing, Registration to Open for ASRW Events

The 2008 International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the 2008 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS), to be co-located and held during the recently created Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW), will be held Nov. 5-8 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

The educational conference will run from Nov. 5-8 (Wednesday-Saturday), and the Exposition is open Nov. 6-8 (Thursday-Saturday). Both events will take place during the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), which will be held that same week in Las Vegas.

Online registration will open in early- to late-July, and the printed attendee brochures will be distributed in late-July. Attendees may register at www.NACEexpo.com and www.CARSevent.com. Hanley Wood Housing will assist attendees and exhibitors with all hotel, airline and car rentals – one-stop shopping for all travel needs.

The NACE and CARS hotel block includes the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, Excalibur Hotel & Casino, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Luxor Hotel & Casino, Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, and the all-new Hooters Hotel Casino.

NACE – the world’s collision repair event – annually draws an estimated attendance of more than 25,000 industry professionals from around the globe, featuring a comprehensive educational Conference and Exposition of more than 450 exhibiting companies. To exhibit at NACE 2008, call toll-free (888) 529-1641 or (972) 536-6444. For more information, visit the NACE Web site at www.NACEexpo.com.

CARS – the premier event for automotive service professionals — projects an estimated attendance of more than 2,000 industry professionals. It will feature a comprehensive educational Conference and Exposition of more than 100 exhibiting companies. To exhibit at CARS 2008, call toll-free (866) 704-8069 or (972) 536-6425. For more information, visit the CARS Web site at www.CARSevent.com.

The Automotive Service Association is the sponsor of ASRW, NACE and CARS. ASRW, NACE and CARS are produced for ASA by Hanley Wood Exhibitions. For additional information, call (888) 529-1641.